‘Give for a Goal’ Round: Grace’s story

Round 7 is ‘Give for a Goal’ round in Suncorp Super Netball, helping to promote and raise funds for Netball Australia’s Confident Girls Foundation and the work it does in providing opportunities for vulnerable young netballers. Here’s the story of one plucky young netballer who’s found her way through Confident Girls’ and ‘Give for a Goal’s’ support.

No Limits gives participants with an intellectual disability aged 11 and over the opportunity to engage with netball, meet new friends and play in a safe environment as part of a team.

For Grace Pirie, who has cerebral palsy, it was the perfect fit to continue playing the sport she loved when options became limited after finishing school.

“It was really hard to find a place. I didn’t play netball for a year since I left school. Mum suggested I try No Limits,” she said.

“I missed netball so much in that year, so it was great for me to get there again.”

No Limits includes a weekly after school netball training program and taking part in the Smarter Than Smoking Association Championships No Limits Division.

Grace’s mother, Simone, said No Limits provided the ideal balance of a safe environment for players with disabilities, without losing its competitive edge on the court.

It also gave Grace the chance to become a state team player, after she was selected in WA’s Marie Little OAM Shield team last year.

“Even if she didn’t get in the team, just going to the trialling and playing with other girls with disabilities, I thought it would give her confidence, fitness and another group of friends,” Simone said.